(E,E)-alpha-Farnesene is an acyclic sesquiterpene hydrocarbon best known in public literature as a plant volatile and animal semiochemical rather than as a human-use active. The strongest source-grounded evidence supports its chemical identity, its occurrence in ylang-ylang style oils in the AromaForge archive, and a small but clear behavioral literature in termites, moth olfaction, and mouse chemosignaling. Human clinical, toxicology, and constituent-specific fragrance safety data were not verified in this pass, so the archive entry should stay focused on identity, aroma context, and ecological signaling evidence.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem resolves (E,E)-alpha-farnesene to CID 5281516 with formula C15H24 and IUPAC name (3E,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,3,6,10-tetraene. PubChem synonyms include trans,trans-alpha-farnesene and CAS 502-61-4. In the local archive, exact or equivalent trans,trans alpha-farnesene naming appears in ylang-ylang profiles, including Ylang Ylang I and broader ylang-ylang variable records.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded green, woody, fresh, floral descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Read the route, preparation and experimental context before using a study finding to choose an oil.
Reported benefits and effects
Findings retain their study context. An animal or laboratory result describes that experiment.
A 2008 J Chem Ecol study reported that isolated (E,E)-alpha-farnesene triggered alarm reactions in Prorhinotermes canalifrons termites and evoked electroantennographic responses in soldiers and pseudergates.
A 2008 J Chem Ecol study reported that isolated (E,E)-alpha-farnesene triggered alarm reactions in Prorhinotermes canalifrons termites and evoked electroantennographic responses in soldiers and pseudergates.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 1999 Chem Senses paper found that a synthetic mixture containing E,E-alpha-farnesene and E-beta-farnesene induced estrous cycling in grouped female mice comparably to intact male preputial-gland homogenate.
A 1999 Chem Senses paper found that a synthetic mixture containing E,E-alpha-farnesene and E-beta-farnesene induced estrous cycling in grouped female mice comparably to intact male preputial-gland homogenate.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 1990 Experientia study reported that E,E-alpha-farnesene and E-beta-farnesene were elevated in dominant male mouse urine signals and discouraged prolonged investigation by subordinate males in two-choice tests.
A 1990 Experientia study reported that E,E-alpha-farnesene and E-beta-farnesene were elevated in dominant male mouse urine signals and discouraged prolonged investigation by subordinate males in two-choice tests.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2000 J Comp Physiol A paper identified E,E-alpha-farnesene as a specific stimulant for one antennal receptor-neuron type in the moth Heliothis virescens using GC-linked electrophysiology.
A 2000 J Comp Physiol A paper identified E,E-alpha-farnesene as a specific stimulant for one antennal receptor-neuron type in the moth Heliothis virescens using GC-linked electrophysiology.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Phototoxicity concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Oxidation concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Penetration enhancementNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
No numeric constituent-specific use limit is available here. Missing is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
No public IFRA-style numeric dermal limit or constituent-specific human tolerability study for isolated (E,E)-alpha-farnesene was verified in this pass.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
As a highly unsaturated sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, (E,E)-alpha-farnesene should be treated conservatively with respect to air, heat, and light exposure because oxidation-related safety data were not fully verified here.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Constituents it may interact with
No constituent-pair interaction is recorded for this identity. The report does not assume either amplification or incompatibility.
How the effects were investigated
olfactory behavioral signal
The strongest mechanism support is olfactory signaling, where (E,E)-alpha-farnesene triggers or modifies insect and mouse behavior through dedicated chemosensory detection.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
narrowly tuned odorant receptor activation
Electrophysiology work in Heliothis virescens identified receptor neurons selectively responsive to E,E-alpha-farnesene among many plant volatiles.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
What this report cannot establish
- A reported constituent percentage does not establish an effective human therapeutic dose or the amount absorbed into the body.
- The presence of a constituent does not guarantee a clinical benefit, rash treatment or sleep improvement from a custom blend.
- An unflagged concern or missing use limit does not establish safety for ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure or a particular person.
- A candidate constituent interaction does not establish that two oils amplify one another at the selected proportions.
- Constituent descriptors alone do not establish a precise top, heart or base lifetime in a finished blend.
Known data gaps (6)
- No human clinical evidence for isolated (E,E)-alpha-farnesene was verified in this pass.
- Accessible literature is concentrated in chemical ecology and sensory biology rather than human safety or wellness contexts.
- A stronger openly accessible constituent-specific fragrance safety review was not located during this pass.
- dermal_limit_pct corrected from an unsourced 25 to null, and sensitizing corrected from an unsourced true to null (2026-07-13): RIFM literature uses alpha-farnesene (CAS 502-61-4) as a read-across analog and reports no genotoxicity concern, but no numeric IFRA dermal limit or explicit sensitization verdict for isolated (E,E)-alpha-farnesene was located in two search passes; the full RIFM PDF was not fetched.
- No constituent-specific numeric dermal reference is available here.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.